Fedora Linux- Opinion (violation of Open source)?
as we all know Fedora linux is opensource as a big player to the open source community. and according to that it should be freely available for everyone. just like any distribution available i.e Ubuntu / mint/ Puppy linux/ Debian .. and so on. BUT i found this in teh small print on FEDORa’s download site as well as RED HAT’s
Fedora software and technical information is subject to the U.S. Export Administration Regulations and other U.S. and foreign law, and may not be exported or re-exported to certain countries (currently Cuba, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria) or to persons or entities prohibited from receiving U.S. exports (including those (a) on the Bureau of Industry and Security Denied Parties List or Entity List, (b) on the Office of Foreign Assets Control list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons, and (c) involved with missile technology or nuclear, chemical or biological weapons). You may not download Fedora software or technical information if you are located in one of these countries, or otherwise affected by these restrictions. You may not provide Fedora software or technical information to individuals or entities located in one of these countries or otherwise affected by these restrictions. You are also responsible for compliance with foreign law requirements applicable to the import and use of Fedora software and technical information.
HOW teh hell is that free software now? isnt this violation of teh FREE software movement? you can see this at teh download page when you click on teh EXPORTING REGULATIONS…
opinions? Is that justified? I have friends who live in Iran and Syria. how is this acceptable?
Tagged with: biological weapons • bureau of industry and security • download page • download site • entities • export administration regulations • fedora linux • foreign assets control • free software movement • mint • missile technology • nationals • north korea • office of foreign assets • office of foreign assets control • open source community • puppy linux • red hat • syria • technical information
Filed under: Open Source
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that is US who are affraid of their own shadows. but anyway dont mind, they can download it there..
It’s just the standard US export law. Federal law trumps all the other restrictions. In other words, if you invent some software that only works if the user is smoking crack, you can’t ship crack with your product in the United States because it is a banned substance (thankfully)
This is a complex issue.
The link below explain what is meant by opensource software. Section 5 states: "Some countries, including the United States, have export restrictions for certain types of software. An OSD-conformant license may warn licensees of applicable restrictions and remind them that they are obliged to obey the law; however, it may not incorporate such restrictions itself."
It is not the software maker that can discriminate against users.
THe people in Iran etc do have access to opensource software. They have developed their own distributions and import it from friendly countries. On the other hand many of those countries do not allow opensource software for fear of what ideas may be generated in their country.
This is a complex issue.
Certain softwares must abide by the regulations set by the United States. the laws of the US still have to be followed even though it might seem contradictory to "open source"